Key Takeaways:

• POLITICS: PM Zaidi Assumes Office, Appoints Acting Ministers; New Coalition Seeks to Unseat Speaker Halbousi – On May 16, new Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Falih al-Zaidi formally assumed office during a handover ceremony attended by former Prime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani at the government palace in Baghdad. Among his first moves as prime minister, Zaidi instructed his Cabinet to form a Council on Financial Stability tasked with navigating the financial crisis facing the country as a result of the collapse in oil exports. Zaidi also asked the Ministry of Electricity to prepare a short-term plan to address power shortages ahead of the summer season. In addition, he directed the Foreign Ministry to prepare studies on improving Iraq’s relations with Arab states and other important countries. To fill currently vacant Cabinet positions, Zaidi appointed acting ministers to run the Interior, Higher Education, Planning, and Labor ministries. The Coordination Framework said on Wednesday that efforts to fill all remaining Cabinet positions will resume after the upcoming four-day Eid holiday, which begins next Tuesday. On May 19, members of Nouri al-Maliki’s State of Law (SoL) coalition said the bloc seeks to replace parliament speaker Haybat al-Halbousi, citing his management of the May 14 confidence vote that approved Zaidi’s partial Cabinet but excluded SoL nominees for the Higher Education and Interior portfolios. Halbousi’s handling of the session was also criticized by his own deputy, Shakhwan Abdullah of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), whose candidate for the Housing and Reconstruction portfolio was likewise blocked. The emerging coalition seeking to unseat Halbousi reportedly also includes the Azm coalition, whose nominees for the Planning and Culture ministries similarly failed to secure confirmation. Combined, the anti-Halbousi bloc is said to include nearly 140 members of parliament. In other developments, on May 17, Muqtada al-Sadr congratulated Zaidi on securing parliament’s confidence for his Cabinet, marking a rare public endorsement by Sadr, who has largely distanced himself from active politics for nearly four years. On May 18, thousands of unemployed college graduates staged a protest in Baghdad demanding jobs. Meanwhile, medical interns threatened to go on strike beginning June 1 unless they are granted permanent positions instead of their current temporary contracts. more…
• SECURITY & HUMANITARIAN: U.S. Arrests Senior Kataib Hezbollah Commander; New Drone Attacks Raise Tensions with Gulf Countries – On May 15, the U.S. Justice Department announced the arrest of Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi, an Iraqi national and senior member of Kataib Hezbollah (KH), which Washington designates as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. Saadi, who has been transferred to the United States, was charged with six terrorism-related offenses tied to his activities on behalf of KH and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). U.S. authorities accused him of involvement in nearly 20 attacks and attempted attacks across Europe and North America, as well as planning further attacks in New York, California, and Arizona. KH denied that Saadi was one of its members, but described him as a “supporter” and declared that “he will be brought home.” On May 17, Saudi Arabia’s Defense Ministry said its forces intercepted and shot down three drones that had approached the kingdom from Iraqi airspace. The Ministry stressed that Riyadh reserves the right to respond “at the appropriate time and place.” Meanwhile, the UAE Defense Ministry said a drone struck the perimeter of the country’s only nuclear power plant on May 17, triggering a fire. The Ministry said the drone, along with half a dozen others intercepted over a 48-hour period, had all originated from Iraqi airspace. The Gulf Cooperation Council strongly condemned the attacks and warned against further unprovoked escalation. For its part, the Iraqi government also condemned the attacks while distancing itself from the incidents, noting that Iraqi military systems had not detected the drone flights referenced by Saudi authorities. No Iraqi groups have claimed responsibility for the attacks. Between May 18–20, four rockets and two drones launched from Iran reportedly struck camps belonging to an Iranian Kurdish opposition group inside Iraq. more…
• ECONOMY & CLIMATE: Oil Exports in April Dropped to One-Tenth of Pre-War Levels; Government Moves to Address Plastic Pollution – On May 18, Iraq’s Oil Ministry said crude oil exports in April averaged just 329,513 barrels per day (bpd), amid the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz. April exports were slightly more than half the volume reported for March, marking a further decline to roughly one-tenth of Iraq’s pre-war export levels. The exports generated only $1.087 billion in revenue, compared to $1.957 billion in March and $6.814 billion in February. Nearly 153,000 bpd were exported through the ports of Basra. Meanwhile, northern exports via Turkey averaged 165,250 bpd from the Kirkuk fields, in addition to 42,000 bpd from fields in the Kurdistan region. Volumes exported by truck to Jordan, which typically average 10,000 bpd, remained at zero for the fourth consecutive month. Exports from Basra remained severely constrained at the time of reporting. On May 19, Iraq’s new government approved measures aimed at improving environmental protection, with a focus on reducing plastic pollution. The measures include gradually restricting the use of plastic shopping bags by ending their free distribution within six months and prohibiting their importation in favor of biodegradable alternatives. In other developments, on May 14, news reports said Iraq had approached the IMF about obtaining financial assistance to cope with declining revenues resulting from the Iran conflict. On May 21, Iraq’s Trade Ministry said wheat farmers across central and southern provinces had delivered 1.38 million tons of grain since the beginning of the current harvest season. more…

For more background on most of the institutions, key actors, political parties, and locations mentioned in our takeaways or in the stories that follow, see the ISHM Reference Guide.

POLITICS: PM Zaidi Assumes Office, Appoints Acting Ministers; New Coalition Seeks to Unseat Speaker Halbousi

On May 16, Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Falih al-Zaidi formally assumed office during a hand-over ceremony attended by former Prime Minister Mohammed a-Sudani held at the government palace in Baghdad. Among his first moves as prime minister, Zaidi instructed his Cabinet to form the Council on Financial Stability, tasked with navigating the financial crisis facing the country as a result of the collapse in oil exports. Among other initiatives, Zaidi asked the Ministry of Electricity to prepare a short-term plan to address power shortages ahead of the summer season. He also asked the Foreign Ministry to prepare studies about improving Iraq’s relations with Arab states and other important countries. To fill currently vacant Cabinet positions, Zaidi appointed deputy Interior Minister Hussein al-Awadi as acting Interior Minister, and appointed Health Minister as Acting Minister of Higher Education. Later, Zaidi named Finance Minister Falih al-Sari as acting Minister of Planning and Justice Minister Khalid Shwani as acting Minister of Labor. The leaders of the Coordination Framework said after a meeting on Wednesday that efforts to fill all vacant Cabinet positions will resume after the upcoming four-day Eid holiday, which begins next Tuesday. 

On May 14, Tom Barrack, the U.S. envoy to Turkey and Syria, congratulated Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi following parliament’s confirmation of his cabinet. In a social media post, Barrack said the Trump administration was “encouraged” by Zaidi’s “fresh leadership” and was prepared to work with the new prime minister toward shared goals of prosperity and “the elimination of terrorism.” The envoy reaffirmed Washington’s vision of a sovereign, prosperous, and stable Iraq at peace with its neighbors, emphasizing a partnership with the United States aimed at delivering opportunity and growth for all Iraqis.

On May 17, Muqtada al-Sadr spoke on the phone with Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi and congratulated him on securing parliament’s confidence for his Cabinet, a statement by Zaidi’s office said. The rare public contact and endorsement of a politician by Sadr, who had distanced himself from active engagement in politics for almost four years, is seen as an unprecedented expression of support by Sadr, who had pulled his 73 representatives from parliament after failing to form a government in the summer of 2022. 

On May 18, thousands of unemployed college graduates staged a protest in Baghdad demanding that the government create new job opportunities as part of the 2026 budget plan. The demonstration, estimated to have drawn around 5,000 participants, was the first major protest of its kind since the new government took office and took place amid heavy security deployments. No violence or clashes between protesters and security forces were reported.  In related news, a group representing Iraqi doctors said that medical interns (2023 and 2024 graduates) plan to go on strike starting June 1 until they are given permanent positions instead of their current temporary contracts. Medical interns complain about long hours, low wages, and long delays in payment. 

On May 19, members of the State of Law (SoL) coalition led by Nouri al-Maliki said the bloc would seek to replace parliament speaker Haybat al-Halbousi, citing his management of the May 14 confidence vote that approved the government of Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi. Rasoul Radhi, a SoL member, described parliament’s failure to confirm the bloc’s nominees for the Higher Education and Interior portfolios as “a conspiracy” and a “political assault” orchestrated by rival “Shia, Sunni, and Kurdish” blocs. Halbousi’s handling of the session was also criticized by his own deputy, Shakhwan Abdullah of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), who accused him of arbitrarily delaying and then blocking votes on several ministerial nominees, including the KDP’s candidate for the Housing and Reconstruction portfolio. The emerging coalition seeking to unseat Halbousi reportedly also includes the Azm coalition, whose nominees for the Planning and Culture ministries likewise failed to secure confirmation last week. Combined, the anti-Halbousi bloc is said to include nearly 140 members of parliament, though that figure could not be independently verified. The disagreements that prevented several Cabinet portfolios from being filled on May 14 have also sparked defections from former Prime Minister Sudani’s Reconstruction and Development Coalition (RCD). According to RCD members, 16 lawmakers, mostly those affiliated with PMF chairman Falih al-Fayyadh and former Labor Minister Ahmed al-Asadi, have left RCD, leaving Sudani with just 35 lawmakers in his bloc. 

Sources cited in this section include: Baghdad Today, INA, Shafaq, social media, Iraqi PM’s office, al-Sa’a, Rudaw, Iraq Observer, Ultra Iraq, ISHM archive, New Sabah.

SECURITY & HUMANITARIAN: U.S. Arrests Senior Kataib Hezbollah Commander; New Drone Attacks Raise Tensions with Gulf Countries

On May 14, Iraq’s Joint Operations Command said the Iraqi army aviation struck a hideout used by ISIS militants in the Wadi al-Shay region of Kirkuk province. The operation, which employed CH-5 armed drones, destroyed the hideout, killing a suspected senior ISIS militant, the military added.  

On May 15, the U.S. Justice Department announced the arrest of Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi, an Iraqi national and senior member of Kataib Hezbollah, which Washington designates as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. According to the Justice Department, al-Saadi was charged with six terrorism-related offenses tied to his activities on behalf of Kataib Hezbollah and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). U.S. authorities accused him of involvement in nearly 20 attacks and attempted attacks across Europe and North America, including bombings, arson attacks, and assaults targeting American communities and interests. Officials said al-Saadi had also planned further attacks in New York, California, and Arizona. The Justice Department said al-Saadi was transferred into U.S. custody overseas and transported to the United States. Prosecutors further alleged that al-Saadi worked closely with former IRGC-Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani and former Kataib Hezbollah leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis prior to their deaths in a 2020 U.S. airstrike in Baghdad. In a statement, Kataib Hezbollah denied that Saadi was one of its members, but described him as a “supporter,” and declared that “he will be brought home.” 

On May 15, security sources in Maysan province said that an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated under a civilian vehicle in central Amara, destroying the vehicle and causing damage to adjacent buildings. The sources said initial investigations suggest the attack was linked to personal business disputes. To the north, security sources in Salah ad-Din province said that a young man was seriously wounded in an incident involving an explosive remnant of war near Tikrit. Meanwhile, in Baghdad, unidentified individuals attacked the home of al-Israa University with a hand grenade. There were no reports of casualties in the attack, which is reportedly the second of its kind in recent weeks. 

On May 17, Saudi Arabia’s Defense Ministry said its forces intercepted and shot down three drones that had approached the kingdom from Iraqi airspace. In a statement, the Ministry stressed that Saudi Arabia reserves the right to respond “at the appropriate time and place.” Meanwhile, the UAE Defense Ministry said a drone struck the perimeter of the country’s only nuclear power plant on May 17, triggering a fire. In a follow-up statement on May 19, the Ministry said the drone, along with about six others intercepted over a 48-hour period, had all originated from Iraqi airspace. The Gulf Cooperation Council strongly condemned the attacks and warned against further unprovoked escalation. For its part, the Iraqi government condemned the attacks on Saudi Arabia and the UAE while distancing itself from the incidents, noting that Iraqi military systems had not detected the drone flights referenced by Saudi authorities. No Iraqi groups have claimed responsibility for the attacks. 

On May 18, the Kurdistan Toilers’ Association, an Iranian Kurdish opposition group based in Iraq, said that four rockets launched from Iran targeted its camp in the Sordash region of Sulaymaniyah province. The nighttime attack left two individuals with light injuries, according to a spokesman for the group. Two days later, another camp for the group, also in Sulaymaniyah, was attacked by two explosive drones without causing casualties, according to another spokesman for the group.  

Sources cited in this section include: INA, U.S. Justice Department, Shafaq, al-Sumaria, Asharq al-Awsat, al-Arabiya, AP, Iraqi PM’s office, Ultra Iraq.

ECONOMY & CLIMATE: Oil Exports in April Dropped to One-Tenth of Pre-War Levels; Government Moves to Address Plastic Pollution

On May 14, Asharq al-Awsat reported, citing sources close to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), that Iraq has inquired about the possibility of obtaining financial assistance to cope with declining revenues resulting from the Iran conflict. According to the sources, the request was raised last month during meetings between Iraqi officials and representatives of the IMF and World Bank in Washington. It remains unclear how much assistance the Iraqi government is seeking.

On May 18, a heavy sandstorm swept through western and southern Iraq, sending more than 800 people to the hospital with breathing problems over the following 48 hours. Najaf province reported the highest number of hospitalizations, with 365 people seeking medical attention after the storm. This is the second heavy sandstorm to hit Iraq since the beginning of May. 

On May 18, Iraq’s Oil Ministry reported that crude oil exports in April totaled just 9.884 million barrels, averaging 329,513 barrels per day (bpd), amid the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz. April exports were slightly more than half the volume reported for March, marking a further decline to roughly one-tenth of Iraq’s pre-war export levels. The Ministry said the exports generated only $1.087 billion in revenue, compared to $1.957 billion in March and $6.814 billion in February. Nearly 153,000 bpd came from fields in southern and central Iraq and were exported through the ports of Basra. Meanwhile, northern exports via Turkey averaged 165,250 bpd from the Kirkuk fields, in addition to 42,000 bpd from fields in the Kurdistan region. Volumes exported by truck to Jordan, which typically average 10,000 bpd, remained at zero for the fourth consecutive month pending renewal of the bilateral pricing agreement. Iraq’s main oil exports from Basra remained severely constrained at the time of reporting. Two tankers carrying Iraqi crude reportedly crossed the Strait of Hormuz on May 20, bringing the total number of Iraqi crude shipments to transit the strait this month to five. 

On May 19, Iraq’s new government approved a series of measures aimed at improving environmental protection and public health, with a particular focus on reducing plastic pollution. The measures include gradually restricting the use of plastic shopping bags by ending their free distribution within six months, banning their use in bakeries, and prohibiting their importation in favor of biodegradable alternatives. The government also approved new environmental service fees covering the monitoring and environmental assessment of plastic bag producers, with part of the revenues earmarked to support environmental projects as well as monitoring and awareness programs. In addition, the government established a specialized committee tasked with developing mechanisms to support waste sorting and recycling projects and encourage the transition to paper bags. The Environment Ministry will also conduct public awareness campaigns on the risks associated with plastic bag use.

On May 21, Iraq’s Trade Ministry said that wheat farmers across central and southern provinces have delivered approximately 1.38 million tons of grain since the beginning of the current harvest season. Deliveries from the northern provinces of Kirkuk, Ninewa, Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, and Duhok, where the season starts later, have not begun yet, according to the director of the state-owned Grain Trade Company. The official added that grain storage capacity has increased by 1.6 million tons this year, aided by the construction of a large number of new silos that were commissioned last year.   

Sources cited in this section include: Asharq al-Awsat, Shafaq, Baghdad Today, ISHM archive, Iraq’s Oil Ministry, al-Sumaria, Ultra Iraq, Rudaw. 

Derived from firsthand accounts and Iraq-based Arabic and Kurdish news sources, the Iraq Security and Humanitarian Monitor is a free publication of the Enabling Peace in Iraq Center.

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